Dale Daniel's POV
Day after our Christmas, I got up early in the morning because Manang Lydia woke me up, informing me that my grandmother was calling.
"Sir Dale!" I heard her from outside. I forced myself to open my sleepy eyes. "Madam is calling!" she added. 
I felt the heaviness in my body, tiredness is still present in me. I got up lazily and opened the door of my room. "Thanks, Manang Lydia," I said after she passed me the keypad phone.
Manang Lydia and my grandmother were pretty close. Back when I was a child it was both of them who looked after me after my father passed away.
My father. . . Papa.
"Grandma," I responded when I put the phone near to my ears.
"Why couldn't I contact you, kid?" she sounded mad on the other line.
"I forgot to charge it."
"What a kid!" 
"Grandma, I'm already turning 22!" I reacted, rubbing my forehead. She's still calling me that. I'm already grown up. It sounds weird that she's still calling me kid. It doesn't sound good if others can hear it. 
"Okay. Okay," she replied, but in a teasing voice. "By the way, I called to inform you that I couldn't come this holiday," she stated, in a sad tone. "Our publishing company needs me."
I unleashed a sigh, barely disappointed. "Okay. I understand."
"If you want to visit some place, you can. Enjoy your vacation."
I remained silent. I don't know what to say. All I want for this year is to see her again. It's already been four years since I last saw her. My grandma is the founder of Dreammy Pen Company that's why she persuaded me to pursue Journalism. It's not that difficult for me since I'm into writing. She even told me that after I graduate, she'll let me work at headquarters. And that was in America! I couldn't say no to her. 
"Just don't forget to send me pictures!" she raised her tone.
"Grandma?"
"Johnny and Ryle are going to our house, aren't they?" she asked. My grandmother knows that my two best friends were always spending their holiday together with me.
"I guess so. That's what Ryle said."
"Okay. Okay. That's it, son," she said on the other line. "Grandma already missed you," she added.
I felt an abrupt anguish inside my heart, yearning for my grandmother, for her embrace. "Me too, Grandma," I responded in a down-spirited tone.
"You forgot to tell me something."
I sighed. "How am I going to tell you if I already forgot it?"
She grumbled. "I'll suspend your allowance for a year!"
"Grandma?" I took a deep breath. "What do you want to hear from me?" I surrendered. I know that she'll keep on blackmailing as long as she won't hear what she wants to hear. 
"About that woman."
"Who?" I frowned. 
"Why are you asking me? I am the one who's asking you."
"Who's the woman you are referring to?"
"Eh, she's the only woman in your life, isn't she?" 
I patted my forehead. My grandma was never late for gossip. I wonder who told her about Zyah. 
"Grandma, why are you asking about her? You wanna play your role as domineering boss and give her millions to leave me?"
My grandma laughed at the other line. "What are you saying, kiddo? How could I miss such a beautiful daughter-in-law?" 
"Grandma, she isn't my girlfriend yet. Look at what you are saying." 
"Then, make her your girlfriend!" 
"You are in America right now, right?" I asked her.
"Yeah."
"Why could I sense you are more excited than me?"
"Of course, I am, kid! You never had a girl in your life before! I have now hope to have a grandchild!"
"Grandma, aren't I already your grandson?" 
"Oh. Yeah, you are. I forgot." I heard her chuckles. "That's all for now! Bye, kiddo." Then she put down the line. 
I could unleash my other side every time I was with my grandmother. I love her the most. She was the most important person in my life. She was the one who stayed by my side after my dad passed away. She patiently deals with my mood swings. She never got tired of giving me encouragement. 
I only had her not until Zyah came. . . 
I changed into my jogging pants and a loose black shirt. I readied myself for a jog. It was typical for me to have a jog every weekend with Ryle and Johnny. When I came out of our gate, they were already there waiting for me. We decided to jog around the Dreem Plaza. When we got there, sweat was already running down our faces since it was a sunny morning. 
Amidst our running, Ryle stopped and stared in a certain direction. "Bro, that's Zyah!" He notified us, pointing his hand.
"It's indeed her!" Johnny agreed. "Let's go!" Both of them instantly departed, running to her place. I couldn't stop them so I quietly came after them.
These guys! Leaving me behind.
"Zy!" Ryle called, making her turn her head to us. 
"Oh. You're here!" She welcomed us.
She is with her friend, I often saw them together, also with Ellaine Grace. Her friend, Crystal Dwight is with her mother, I guess. She's in a wheelchair.
"Dwight's mother," she introduced the woman sitting on a wheelchair next to Crystal Dwight. That just made my assumption correct.
"Hello, Auntie," Johnny greeted.
"Hello." Aron and I both stated.
"Good morning, young lads," she responded in a sickly manner. 
What happened to her?
We smiled at her.
"What are your plans for this coming vacation?" Ryle opened up a topic. He really couldn't stop himself regarding this vacation. Ryle isn't him if he is not traveling. 
"Our grandmother wanted us to spend our vacation in the province," Zyah answered. She then faced Dwight. "Dwighty, she said it's great if we can go together."
"Province?!" Aron Ryle clamored.
"Yes. Why?" Zyah inquired.
"I've never been there before," he confessed.
"Me too," Johnny said next.
"Zy, it is fine if we can tag along?" Ryle asked, persuading Zyah.
She laughed. "Seriously?!"
"Yeah! I want to experience it!" Ryle said with a smile curved on his lips.
"Me too," Johnny agreed, again.
Ryle glanced at me, giving me a gaze as if he's waiting for a response. I found myself unconsciously nodding.
"Guys! Are you serious 'bout that?!" Zyah looked like she couldn't believe the guys' decision.
"Yeah," Ryle and Johnny answered respectively.
Zyah turned her gaze to Dwight once again. "How 'bout you, Dwighty?"
Hesitation covered Dwight's features. "You know, my mother. . ."
Her mother strode her wheelchair and faced her daughter. "Dwight, you can go with them," her mother permitted. "My sister isn't going with Zyah. I can stay with her while you aren't around. Grandma and Grandpa could understand that I can't go with you." 
I know nothing about what they are talking about. It's their family matters after all. 
"Mother," Dwight uttered in a long, soft voice.
"I am fine, really. I can handle myself and your Auntie will surely look after me."
What a family. We were just listening to their conversation. Dwight finally agreed to the plan.
"We are leaving the day after tomorrow," Zyah informed us. 
Clarriese Zyah's POV
"Really?!" My mom exclaimed when I told her that my friends were going along with us to the province.
"As in, ma!" I couldn't stop myself either. "I wasn't expecting them to join either!"
"Ma, why can't you go with us?" I asked.
"Baby, the company needs me. And I need to accompany my sister to the hospital," she explained. "It's the least thing I could do for her."
I understand. My mother was always the one who accompanied Auntie Lavianna to get her treatment. It's my mother's way to help her since Dwight is studying. It won't be good if she's going to stop from studying. I have no problem with that. I also don't want to see my cousin couldn't go to school. I was once promised to her that we will never be apart. I don't want to break my word. Dwight meant a lot to me. She's like a sister to me. 
I was packing my clothes when I received a text message from Ellaine.
From: Ellaynneee
"Zyie, I'll go with the trip too."
"Dwight mentioned it to me."
"I already asked for consent.."
I couldn't stop myself but to smile while composing a reply. "Yay! We are complete! See you!"
We all agreed that we would gather at the airport. Honestly, I really admire them. They all came from elite families yet they did not hesitate to come with us in the province. It's an entirely different environment from their daily life in Dreem City.
After I packed my belongings, my gaze caught the gift that Dale had given to me. I moved closer and reached the small box above my bedside table. Inside the small box is the necklace with a daisy pendant, my birth month flower. I took it out from the box and stared at it for a moment. 
Gonna treasure this one. It's more than a necklace for me. It meant more than that to me. 
Dawn came and here I am, getting confused on what I should bring. I didn't get up early, I was kinda late. Maybe all my companions are all there and waiting for me.
"Lemme send you to the airport!" I heard what my mom said from the sala. "You better hurry up. "You're at the earliest flight!"
"Sure ma," I replied. I am still in my room. Wearing a plaid sweater and harem pants, I finally decided to go down. 
"Just wear some slippers," my mom suggested when I got down.
Remembering what kind of place, where my grandma lives, I followed my mother's suggestion. 
My mom's car was already there when I went out. "Let's go." She said as I got in and fixed my seatbelt. 
"Do I need to see you off inside?" My mom asked when we finally arrived at the airport.
I smiled and shook my head. "No need, ma. It's fine here."
I stepped down from the car. 
"Be safe. Don't forget to send me a message when you arrive," she told me through the window.
"Noted, ma. I love you. Bye!" 
"I love you too, baby. Bye!" She waved her hand before she departed. 
I fixed my suitcase and faced the entrance of the airport. I walked hastily, dragging my suitcase with me. As I got closer, familiar faces gradually became clearer in my vision. My guess is right. They are all here. I am the only one they are waiting for so I walked faster closer to them.
Getting closer to them, I finally got a glimpse of their dresses. Wow! We are going to the province but look how they dressed right now, they looked like they were going out of the country. 
It seems that Johnny really planned his outfit with his light blue denim jacket, light blue sweatshirt, light blue jeans, and white and blue athletic shoes. He lounges comfortably on his suitcase.
Ryle is with a pink shirt tucked in a black shorts paired with white print canvas high-top sneakers.
Dale, as usual, is in all black. Black leather biker jacket, black crew-neck T-shirt, black skinny jeans, and black leather casual boots. 
Ellaine in high waist pants and a v-neck shirt, her chelsea boots suits her looks.
Dwight on a simple white shirt and an overall. We were both wearing flip-flops!
"You all dressed awesome today!" I said when I finally set foot on the place where they all gathered. 
Johnny moves and rises from his suitcase. "Of course. This rarely happens," he answered. 
"The big surprise is waiting for everyone," I uttered, wearing a teasing smile.
"What surprise?" Aron Ryle got curious. 
I looked meaningfully at Dwight for she has an idea what kind of place that will welcome us later. We both planned not to tell them so they can have a thrilling experience! They are looking for it, aren't they?
"Let's go?" Ellaine moved first when our flight was called. Together, we all happily got up to our plane.
The flight attendant annonces thag we arrived at the Roxas City domestic airport.
The warm embrace of the sun welcomed us outside the airport. "Finally, we're here," I stated, closing my eyes, letting the breeze touch my face. 
The place was crowded. A lot of people are going back to their hometowns to celebrate holidays with their families. 
"Ma'am," a middle-aged man approaches us. A cloth was wrapped on his head. They usually tie it this way to protect themselves from dust while they are on the road. 
I remember when I was a kid, I got scared because of how they look. They looked exactly like those rebel villains I saw in movies. 
"Going to terminal, ma'am?" he asked.  Most of the drivers approach their passengers this way. 
"Yes, we are. We're six, " I responded.
"Let's go," he responded.
I faced my companions. "Let's go, guys." I started to move my suitcase and followed the man who's going to send-off us to the terminal. 
Dwight murmured how she missed the province in our Capiznon dialect. She wandered her eyes and I could see how she longed to be here again.
"Dwight, you're like an alien," Ellaine Grace stated, commenting with Dwight's words. Ellaine is right next to me, holding hands. 
"Why?" Dwight tilted her to see Ellaine's face. 
"I couldn't understand what you were saying!" She laughed. 
The others are talking happily behind us. I could hear their laughs, teasing each other. Especially Johnny and Ryle, they keep on blabbering things. 
The man moved his tricycle. He went down again and helped us to put our suitcase on the back portion of it. I smiled at him and thanked him for lending us a hand. 
"Here we go," I said.
"We are six," Dwight said, worried. "Only three of us could ride here."
It's true. The tricycle isn't that big. It couldn't carry the six of us.
"Baldo!" the owner of the tricycle called. Another man drew closer to us. "Passengers!"
"Dale, you and the guys, at the other one" I said. He was the one who's standing closer to me.
"What if we get lost, woman?" 
I chuckled. "Of course not. The drivers here know this place the best," I explained. 
The man named Baldo came back with his tricycle. To assure them that they wouldn't be lost, I talked to him. I approached him using the native language. The other's couldn't do it because they aren't familiar of Hiligaynon. Among the six of us, only Dwight and I know how to speak Bisaya.
The driver nodded and smiled. "Don't worry, ma'am. Trust me."
Ellaine and Dwight already got in the tricycle, waiting for me to join them too. 
Manong Baldo helped Johnny and Aron Ryle to arrange their suitcase. 
I faced Dale. "There. You are safe now."
"I couldn't understand a single thing," he said. He put his hand over my head and messed up my hair. That made my heart skip my beat. Why did he do that? Why did that simple gesture, just ruffling my hair, made me this nervous?
He went to join Aron Ryle and Johnny when he heard nothing from me. I got lost for a moment. I don't know how to utter a single word. My mind was filled by the action he just did a moment ago. 
"Zyie, let's go!" Dwight called me. 
I composed myself and followed the girls. 
After I got on the back, the driver started the tricycle. I was enjoying the ambiance while we were on our way. Ellaine and Dwight are talking, pointing to some things they saw on the road. Ellaine is indeed a city girl, her looks depict that it's her first time to be in this kind of place.  She looked so amused while looking around. 
While we were on the way, the driver asked me amidst his driving if the two of my companions were my classmates. I told him that they are my friends and they are here to spend their vacation. 
After a minute of a ride on the tricycle, we finally arrived at the terminal. I stepped down, the same goes with Ellaine and Dwight. 
I handed him a 500 peso cash for our fare. Surprised overtook his face. He hesitated and asked if we have a smaller bill because he doesn't have changed. He tried to rummaged his pocket but couldn't get an amount to make a change.
"Just keep the change. Treat it as our Christmas gift for you," I told him with a smile.
He accepted the money, and joy became visible through his eyes. "Thank you, ma'am. Thank you."
I saw the three guys step down from the vehicle. Johnny was collecting all their suitcases. Dale followed him. 
Aron Ryle was paying for their fare. "Sir Driver, keep the change too," he said. 
At first, the man was hesitant to accept the money but later couldn't reject Ryle's persuasion.
They followed me when I led the way to the vehicle going to our place. I stopped in front of a red jeepney.
"Another ride," I announced, turning my back to them.
"Jeepney?!" Johnny exclaimed.
"Aren't we taking a van?" That was from Ellaine.
"No, we are riding in a jeepney," I said. Staring at them, I saw their bitter reactions. They didn't see that we were actually going to ride in a jeepney. 
"Manong, where are we going to put our luggage? Can we bring it inside?" I asked the driver. He's standing in front of his jeepney. 
"You can bring them inside, ma'am," he answered. 
"Alright. Thank you," I responded when I went inside the jeepney first. We are in the front area of the jeepney because there aren't many passengers yet. It would take a moment before taking off because we are waiting for other passengers to fill in the remaining seats.
Dwight sat next to me and then Ellaine. On the side of the jeepney, Dale, Ryle and Johnny take the seat respectively. Ryle really can't move on because it's his first time to be in this kind of ambiance.
"You didn't say a word about it, Zy!" Ryle looked at me. "You didn't mention this jeepney!"
I laughed at him. "It's more fun this way, isn't it?"
The driver called more passengers, and after a couple of minutes, his jeepney was filled with passengers.
"Commuting here seems isn't a problem at all," Ellaine stated exactly when the driver hops in and holds his steering wheel.
"Yeah," I answered. "The traffic here as well isn't that heavy compared to other cities."
The jeepney finally departed. Dale was all quiet on our journey. He's just enjoying the scenery. Ryle and Johnny were talking. Dwight and Ellaine were also unstoppable with their talks.